Health

UK reports record 200,000 cases, Plan B restrictions to stay in place

London, Jan 4 (EFE).- The United Kingdom reported on Tuesday a new daily record of Covid-19 cases with 218,724 infections, according to official data.

It is the first time the UK has reported over 200,000 cases even though the figure reflects tests taken in previous days due to a backlog over the Christmas holidays.

Despite the soaring cases and increased pressure on the health system driven by the highly contagious Omicron variant, prime minister Boris Jonhson said the government would go ahead with Plan B restrictions.

“As the NHS moves to a war footing, I will be recommending to the cabinet tomorrow that we continue with Plan B,” he told a press conference.

“Together with the plan B measures, (…) we have a chance to ride out this Omicron wave without shutting down our country once again, we can find a way to live with this virus,” he added.

Plan B measures include wearing face masks in public indoor places, working from home where possible and the use of vaccine passports to enter some venues.

“Anyone who thinks our battle with Covid is over, I am afraid, is profoundly wrong,” Johnson warned, urging citizens to get the booster shot.

Up to 90% of Covid-19 patients in intensive care have not had their booster shot and up to 60% have not had the Covid-19 jab at all, according to the prime minister.

Records were also tumbling across Europe with Italy reporting 170,844 new infections and Greece 50,126 cases, up nearly 10,000 from its previous record at the end of the year.

Spain is also expected to break its daily record after the country reported over 300,000 Covid-19 infections on Monday, even though the figure reflected a backlog over the New Year period.

EFE

prc/mp/ks

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